Premier League Clubs Approve Semi-Automated Offside Technology for 2024-25 Season

The Premier League will use semi-automated technology to help determine offside calls for the 2024-25 season.

In a statement issued by the Premier League on Thursday, clubs unanimously voted to approve the change and it's expected to be ready for use after one of the fall international breaks.

"The technology will provide quicker and consistent placement of the virtual offside line, based on optical player tracking, and will produce high-quality broadcast graphics to ensure an enhanced in-stadium and broadcast experience for supporters," the statement said.

The Athletic's Matt Slater and Ed Mackey noted the Premier League believes the semi-automated technology will save 31 seconds per decision.

There's also a hope it will "bring an end to situations where play continues after a possible offside, because the assistant referees have been instructed to keep their flags down, before then being brought back some time later after an attack has ended."

Semi-automated technology was used at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. It was described at the time as a natural extension of VAR technology.

The technology utilizes cameras positioned on the roof of the stadium that can track the ball and 29 different data points, including limbs and extremities, of each individual player to calculate their exact position on the pitch.

The assistant referees will wear an earpiece with a voice that will be used to tell them if the semi-automated technology has determined an offside violation occurred, allowing them to raise their flag immediately to stop play from continuing.

According to Slater and Mackey, the Premier League will maintain the manual VAR system of crosshair placement as a backup measure, or in the event of a situation with a lot of players bunched together that makes it difficult for the semi-automated technology to get a clear read on a particular situation.

The 2024-25 Premier League season is scheduled to begin on Aug. 17 and wrap up on May 25. The current season will conclude on May 19.